Picking mechanism for looms



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. V. BARDSLEY ETAL PICKING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Dec. 17, 1963 Filed DeC. 6, 1960 Dec- 17 1963 R. v. BARDSLEY r-:TAL 3,114,396m

PICKING MECHANISM FOR LooMs 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 6, -1960 muanow mmnmmmmn. mn mw Dec. 17, 1963 R. v. BARDsLEY ETAL 3,114,396

PIcxING MECHANISM FOR Looms 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed D80. 6. 1960 FIG.3

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Dec. 17, 1963 R. v. BARDsLl-:Y ETAL Pcxmq MECHANISM Foa Looms 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed D60. 6, 1960 United States Patent O 3,114,396 PICKING MECHANISM FR LOOMS Robert V. Bardsley and Raymond J. Grady, Albany, N.Y., assignors to Hayek Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 6, 19d-il, Ser. No. 74,152. 20 Ciairns. tCl. 139-444) This invention relates to looms and more particularly to a picking mechanism for controlling the reciprocation of a shuttle from one end of the loom to the other.

Picking mechanisms of the type to which the present invention is directed, while of general application, are particularly suited for use with relatively wide looms of the type employed in the weaving of papermakers felts, carpets and similar fabrics. As will be understood, such looms include one or more shuttles for the weft yarns, and the picking mechanism propels these shuttles back and forth between a gang of shuttle boxes at the loom ends. Depending upon the desired pattern effects in the fabric being woven, the shuttles are propelled rst from one end of the loom and then the other to effect alternate picking or are actuated to provide two or more picks in succession from the same end. The shuttle boxes are shifted in a sequence determined by the pattern chain, and the particular box in active position upon the completion of a box shift registers with the picking mechanism preparatory to the next pick.

Heretofore, picking mechanisms previously employed for this purpose have exhibited several disadvantages. For example, it often is desirable to impart a relatively high and uniform acceleration to each shuttle as it is discharged from its shuttle box, and many such previous mechanisms have proved deficient in this respect. Additionally, and this has been of special moment in cases in which a number of shuttles are employed, difficulties heretofore were encountered in controlling the particular picking sequence in accordance with the desired pattern. Furthermore, picking mechanisms of the type heretofore employed often have been subject to excessive vibration and noise, thereby further impairing the eciency of the weaving operation.

One general object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a new and improved picking mechanism for controlling the reciprocation of one or more shuttles from one end of a loom to the other.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide such a picking mechanism which imparts a high and uniform acceleration to each shuttle as it begins its reciprocal movement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a picking mechanism of the character indicated which is operable in accordance with substantially any desired picking sequence.

A further object of this invention is to provide a picking mechanism in which the deleterious effects of vibration and noise are appreciably reduced.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a picking mechanism utilizing comparatively simple components, which mechanism is economical to manufacture and thoroughly reliable in operation.

In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is provided, in a picking mechanism for a loom, picker means, such as a pair of picker sticks, for example, which are each pneumatically operated by means including a fluid cylinder and a piston therefor. The cylinders are supplied with fluid under pressure from a single source and are respectively connected thereto by a lirst and a second uid system. These systems each include valve means which is effective at a particular point in the pick cycle of the loom to enable the introduction of iiuid under a predetermined pressure into one or the other of the cylinders in accordance with the desired pattern effects in the fabric being woven, to thereby operate the associated picker means.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the valve means in each system is of particular construction and arrangement and is connected to a compression chamber in a manner such that an ample and relatively constant supply of uid under pressure is available at all times for controlling the corresponding cylinder, thereby enabling the application of extremely smooth and uniform forces to the associated picker means.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, there is provided means controlled by the loom for conditioning one or the other of the fluid systems for the introduction of fluid into the cylinders in accordance with a predetermined pattern. As an illustration, in one particularly advantageous embodiment, the head motion of the loom initiates the supply of fluid pressure to one of two pilot valves in accordance with a sequence determined by the pattern chain, and at a particular point in the pick cycle, the selected pilot valve is effective to operate the valve means to which it is connected. In another good embodiment, the head motion of the loom controls the selective energization of two solenoids which in turn operate the valve means in accordance with the desired sequence. As a result, upon operation of the valve means, the picker means are actuated in accordance with this sequence to effect either alternate picking or to provide two or more picks in succession from the same end of the loom.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, in some embodiments, each of the picker means moves relative to the associated piston during its operation in a manner such that the shuttles controlled by the picker means are rapidly accelerated.

The present invention as well as further objects and features thereof will be understood more clearly and fully from the following description of certain preferred embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a front elevational view of a loom embodying a picking mechanism in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of a control system in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the invention for controlling the picking mechanism of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, 0f a control valve useful in the system of FiGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of a control system in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FlGURE 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of an electrical circuit useful in connection with the system of FIG- URE 4; and

FGURE 6 is a sectional View taken along the line 6-6 in FIGURE l, with certain parts omitted for purposes of clarity.

Referring initially to FIGURE l of the drawings, there is shown a loom having a frame 10 and a constantly rotating shaft 11 which extends horizontally from `one end of the loom to the other. The loom includes the usual head motion indicated generally at 12 which is provided with a pattern chain 13 Movably supported adjacent the head end of the loom are three head end shuttle boxes 14, 15 and 16, while the opposite, drive end of the loom similarly includes three drive end shuttle boxes 17, i8 and 19. As will be understood, during loom operation the pattern chain 13 controls the movement of these shuttle boxes in a vertical direction to position selected boxes in active position on the loom. Upon the discharge of a shuttle (not shown) from a selected box, an oscillating lay 26 is operated to beat up the weft yarns laid in the shed. The parts thus far identified may be of any conventional form depending upon the particular loom to which the present invention is to be adapted.

At the head end of the loom, there is provided an upstanding picker stick 25 which is pivotally affixed adjacent its lower end to a portion of the loom frame 1), while the drive end of the loom includes an upstanding picker stick 26 similarly supported by the loom frame. To reduce the incidence of structural failure, in many cmbodiments of the invention the picker sticks 25 and 26 advantageously are fabricated from a relatively light metal such as aluminum, although in other good embodiments they may be made of hickory or other conventional material. The picker stick 25 is biased in a counter- Clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE l, by a horizontally disposed coil spring 3i) which is secured at one end to the lowermost portion of picker stick 25 by a strap 31 and at the other end to a fixed turnbuckle 32 or other tension adjusting means. A coil spring 33 biases the picker stick 26 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in this figure, and is similarly connected at one end to the lowermost portion of picker stick Z6 by a strap 34 and at the other end to a fixed turnbuckle 35.

One end of a picker strap 4t) is alixed intermediate the ends of the head end picker stick 25, and this strap is trained around a flanged pulley 41 and is secured at its other end to a lixed beam 4.2 by a clamp 43. The pulley 41 is carried by a clevis 44 mounted at the outer end of a horizontally extending piston rod 45 having a piston d6 at its opposite, inner end which is reciprocally movable within a liuid cylinder 47. In a similar manner, a picker strap 56 is secured at one end to the central portion of the drive end picker stick 26, and the strap t) extends around a flanged pulley 51 and is fastened at its other end by a clamp 52 to a fixed beam 53. A clevis 54 supports the pulley 51 and is aixed to the outer end of a horizontally disposed piston rod 55. The opposite, inner end of rod 55 is provided with a piston 56 mounted for reciprocal movement within a iluid cylinder 57. The cylinders 47 and 57 are rigidly a'lxed to the beams 42 and 53, respectively, adjacent the inner ends thereof in a manner such that, for all positions of the piston rods 45 and 55, each of the pulleys 41 and 51 on these piston rods is disposed on the side of the clamp 43 or 52 for the corresponding picker strap opposite that of the adjacent picker stick.

Each of the lluid cylinders 47 and 57 is provided with an inlet port 6l? adjacent the outer end thereof and is substantially open at its opposite, inner end to form an enlarged exhaust port 61. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the inlet port 61B for the cylinder 57 is connected to a source 62 of air under pressure by a fluid system indicated generally at 63, while the inlet port 6l) of the cylinder 57 is connected to the source 62 by a liuid system indicated generally at 64. A main shut-off valve 65 is interposed between the systems 63 and 64 and the pressure source, and the outlet side of valve 65 is connected to systems 63 and 64 by a conduit 66.

The uid systems 63 and 64 each include a pressure regulating valve 70 which is connected by a conduit 71 to the conduit 66 leading to the valve 65 and the pressure source 62. The outlet side of the regulating valve 70 in each system leads to the inlet of an enlarged compression chamber or storage tank 72 having a pressure gauge 73. The regulating valves 7@ are of conventional construction and serve to maintain a uniform but adjustable pressure in the corresponding tanks 72.

rihe outlet side of the storage tank 72 in each of the fluid systems 63 and 64 is connected to an air-line lubricator 75. In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, each of the air-line lubricators is of a type which illustratively includes an oil reservoir (not shown) and a venturi section for directing suspended oil particles into the line on the downstream side of the lubricator. For a more detailed discussion of representative lubricators useful in connection with the invention, reference may be had to Catalog No. 900b entitled Norgren Pneumatic Products, published by the C. A. Norgren Company, Englewood, Colorado.

The lubricator 75 in the fluid system 63 is connected by a conduit 76 to an inlet port Si) of a directional control valve 31, the outlet port 82 of which is connected to the inlet port 69 of the cylinder 47 by a conduit 83. Similarly, the lubricator 75 in the fluid system 64 is connected through a conduit 76 to an inlet port 86 of a second directional control valve '51, and the outlet port 32 of this latter valve is connected by a conduit 83 to the inlet port 631 of the cylinder 57. As best shown in FIGURE 3, each of the valves 31 includes a substantially hollow valve housing SS having two integrally formed partitions 86 and 37 therein which denne an inlet chamber 88 in communication with the port Sti, an outlet chamber 89 in communication with the port 82 and an exhaust chamber @il in communication with the atmosphere. The partition 36 is provided with centrally located aperture 91 which accommodates a cup-shaped member 93, while the partition 87 similarly includes a centrally located aperture 92 which accommodates a cup-shaped member 94. The interior of the member 93 is in open communication with the inlet chamber 3S and also communicates with the outlet chamber SS@ through a Valve aperture 95. The interior of member 94- is open to the atmosphere and is connected with the outlet chamber S9 by a valve aperture 96.

A poppet 16S is disposed in the outlet chamber 89 in axial aiignment with the apertures 9S and 96 and is mounted at one end of a piston rod 101. This piston rod extenfs through the aperture 95 and is provided at its other end with a piston 162 reciprocally positioned within the cup-shaped member 93. The arrangement is such that, with the piston 102 in its retracted or valve-closed position (the position shown in FIGURE 3), the poppet 16C- closes the valve aperture 515, thus preventing fluid flow between the inlet port Si? and the outlet port 82 and connecting the outlet port to the exhaust chamber 9@ through the valve aperture 96. Upon axial movement of the piston 162 to the right from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to its valve-open position, the poppet 160 opens the aperture 95 to permit fluid ilow from the inlet port 89 to the outlet port 82 and closes the aperture 96, thus reventing the flow of fluid to the exhaust chamber.

The valve 1 for each of the pneumatic systems 63 and 64S is provided with a port 165 which is in open communication with the interior of the cup-shaped member 93 on tue side of the piston 162 opposite that including the piston rod 161. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the port 165 for the valve 81 in the system 63 is connected by a conduit 166 to the outlet port 107 of a cam-operated pilot valve 198, while the port 195 for the valve 81 in system 64 is connected to the outlet port 109 of a second cam-operated pilot valve by a conduit 111. The pilot valves 165 and 11i) are of similar construction and include respective inlet ports 112 and 113. In addition, each pilot Valve is provided with an exhaust conduit 114 which is open to the atmosphere. The valves are controlied by cam followers 115 and 116, respectively, which are each reciprocally movable in a vertical direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, between a valve-closed and a valveopen position. In the valve-closed position of each follower, the inlet port of the corresponding pilot valve is blocked and the valve outlet port is connected with the exhaust conduit 114, while in the valve-open position, the inlet port is connected to the outlet port. The followers 112 and 113 are suitably biased toward their valve-closed positions and respectively ride on cams 129 and 121 which are lixedly secured to the constantly rotating shaft 11, shown schematically in FlGURE 2 by a dotted line. The cams and 121 are substantially circular but each include a raised portion 122 which extends throughout approximately one-fourth of the cam periphery. These cams are in alignment with each other so that, as the shaft 11 rotates, their raised portions engage the corresponding cam followers simultaneously.

As best shown in FIGURE 6, the cam-operated pilot valve 163 is mounted intermediate the ends of a horizontal arm 125 supported above the shaft 11 and extending transversely with respect thereto adjacent the head end of the loom. This arm is pivotally affixed at one end to an upstanding bracket 126 mounted on the beam 42. The other end of the arm 125 is secured to an elongated rod 127 which extends downwardly and is maintained in iixed but adjustable relationship with the beam 42 by bolts 128. In a similar manner, the cam-operated pilot valve 110 is supported by a horizontally extending arm 131) (FIGURE l) which is pivotally secured at one end thereof to a bracket 131 mounted on the beam 53 and is adjustably affixed to this beam at its other end by an elongated rod (not visible in FGURE l) and suitable bolts.

The inlet ports 112 and 113 (FIGURE 2) for the camoperated valves 1113 and 11) are supplied with air under pressure from the pressure source 62 in accordance with a predetermined sequence. Thus, the .junction between the pneumatic systems 63 and 64 and the conduit 66 leading through the shut-oit valve 65 to the source 62 is connected through a conduit 134, a safety valve 135, a conduit 136, an air-line lubricator 137 and a pressure regulating valve 138 to the inlet ports 141B and 141 of two valves 142 and 143, respectively, by a conduit 144 and branch conduits 145 and 146. The valve 142 includes an outlet port 147 which is connected by a conduit 14S to the inlet port 112 of the cam-operated valve 1118, while the valve 143 is provided with an outlet port 150 which is connected to the inlet port 113 of the camoperated valve 1119 by a conduit 151. ln addition, each of the valves 142 and 143 has an exhaust conduit 152 open to the atmosphere.

The valves 142 and 143 respectively include plungers 155 and 156. Each of these plungers in its retracted, valve-open position connects the corresponding inlet port with the valve outlet port and in its extended position blocks the inlet port while connecting the outlet port to the associated exhaust conduit. The plungers 155 and 156 are suitably biased toward their extended positions and are mounted on opposite sides of a shift lever 160 in the head motion 12 (FIGURE l). The lever 160 normally is provided in the loom for actuating the pick motion which has been supplanted by the picking mechanism of the present invention. This lever swings between two dierent positions in a sequence determined by the pattern chain 13 to move either the plunger 155 or the plunger 156 to its retracted, valve-open position.

The loom is operated by the usual power source to oscillate the lay and to drive the shaft 11 one revolution for each pick, as well as to perform various other loom functions. This power source advantageously is separate from the means employed to operate the picker sticks and 26. To initiate the picking operation, the shut-off valve 65 (FIGURE 2) is opened to admit air under pressure from the pressure source 62, the value 65, the conduit 66, the conduits 71 and the regulator valves 70 in the tiuid systems 63 and 64 to the storage tanks 72. The capacity of these tanks is such that an ample reserve of air under constant pressure is built up in each tank.

Air also iiows from the pressure source 62, the shut-oit valve 65 and the conduit 66, through the conduit 134, the safety valve 135, the conduit 136, the lubricator 137, the regulating valve 138, the conduit 144 and branch conduits 145 and 146 to the inlet ports 140 and 141 of the valves 142 and 143. At this time, the plunger of one of these valves, depending upon the position of the shift lever 160, is in its retracted, valve-open position to connect the inlet port of the open valve with the valve outlet port, while the other valve is in its closed position with its inlet port blocked and its outlet port in communication with the corresponding exhaust conduit. In the uppermost position of the lever 160, viewing FIG- URE 2, the valve 142 is open and permits the ow of air from the inlet port 1411 to the outlet port 147 and through the connected conduit 148 to the inlet port 112 for the cam-operated pilot valve 1118. The inlet port 141 of the valve 143, on the other hand, is blocked, and the outlet port 151i of this latter valve is connected to the exhaust conduit 152 thereof.

As the constantly rotating shaft 11 moves the raised portions 122 of the cams 120 and 121 into engagement with the followers 115 and 116, respectively, the pilot valves 1118 and 111B open and connect their inlet ports with the corresponding outlet ports. Although no air passes through the pilot valve at this time due to the blocked inlet port 141 of valve 143, the air at the inlet port 112 of the pilot valve 1118 is admitted to the valve outlet port 107 and through the connected conduit 106 to the port 1115 of the directional control valve 81 in the pneumatic system 63. The resulting increase in pressure on the left face, as viewed in FGURE 3, of the piston 102 of this control valve moves the piston 102, the rod 101 and the poppet 11111 to the right to connect the inlet port 80 with the outlet port 82 and close the aperture 96 to prevent fluid iiow to the exhaust chamber 911. The air stored in the storage tank 72 (FIGURE 2) in system 63 thereby ilows through the corresponding lubricator 75 and the inlet port 80 to the outlet port 82 and from this outlet port to the inlet port 60 of the pneumatic cylinder 47 through the conduit S3. The rapidly expanding air leaving this storage tank 72 and entering the cylinder 47 exerts a high and uniform force against the piston 46 therein to drive the piston and its attached pulley 41 tO the right, viewing FIGURE l. As indicated heretofore, the picker strap 411 extends around the pulley 41 and is atiixed at one end to the head end picker stick 25 and at the other end to the fixed beam 42. As a result, the picker stick 25 moves progressively toward the pulley 41 and the connected piston 46 during the operation thereof, and a shuttle (not shown) is discharged by the upper end of the picker stick from the shuttle box 14, 15 or 16 in active position on the loom. The connection between the picker strap 40 and the stick 25 moves faster than the piston 46 throughout the pistons travel. The relative movement between the picker stick and the associated piston insures the rapid and uniform acceleration of the shuttle as it leaves its shuttle box.

As the shaft 11 continues to rotate, the cam followers and 116 ride off the raised portions 122 of the cams 126 and 121, thereby permitting the return of the followers 115 and 116 of pilot valves 108 and 110 to their initial positions with the valve outlet ports 107 and 109 connected to the corresponding exhaust conduits and with the inlet ports 112 and 113 closed. The resulting pressure reduction at the port 1115 of the directional control valve 81 in the pneumatic system 63 enables the air pressure in the inlet chamber 88 and within the cupshaped member 93 of this valve to return the piston 102 to the position shown in FIGURE 3, thus closing the inlet port {it} and opening the aperture 96 to connect the outlet port S2 with the exhaust chamber 91). Upon the connection of this outlet port to the exhaust chamber, the pressure in the cylinder 47 decreases rapidly, and the piston 46, the piston rod 45, the pulley 41, the strap 40 and the picker stick 25 are automatically returned to their initial positions by the' coil spring 31).

During the time the pneumatic cylinder 47 is effective to operate the head end picker stick 25 and thereafter, air under pressure is continuously fed from the pressure source 62 into the storage tank 72 in system 63, so that, by the time the constantly rotating shaft 11 begins its next revolution, the pressure in this tank is restored to its original level. Should the shift lever continue to hold the plunger 155 for the pilot valve 142 in its retracted, valve-open position during this next revolution of shaft 11, the control valve 51 in the pneumatic system 63 again opens upon the operation of the valves 16S and 110 by the cams 12th and 121 to introduce air under pressure into the cylinder 47 and thereby again actuate the picker stick 25. As this picker stick moves forward, it propels a shuttle in another of the head end shuttle boxes 13, 14 or 15 across the loom to one of the drive end shuttle boxes 17, 18 or 19, thereby performing a second pick from the head end of the loom.

In cases in which the pattern chain 13 calls for a pick from the drive end of the loom, the lever 166 shifts from its position in engagement with the plunger 155 for the valve 142 and engages the plunger 156 for the Valve 143. The plunger 155 moves to its extended, valve-open position, thereby closing the inlet port 1d@ of valve 142 and connecting the outlet port 147 of this valve to the corresponding exhaust conduit 152, while the plunger 156 retracts to connect the inlet port 141 of the valve 1.43 with the outlet port 159. Compressed air is thus admitted from this outlet port through the conduit 151 to the pilot valve 110 and, upon the opening of valve 111i in response to the cam 121 on the shaft 11, to the port of the directional control valve S1 in the pneumatic system ed. This control valve thereupon opens and admits air under pressure from the storage tank '72 in system 64 to the cylinder 57 to thereby operate the drive end picker stick 26 in a manner similar to that described heretofore in connection with the head end picker stick 25. The arrangement is such that, depending upon the desired pattern effects in the fabric being woven, the movement of the shift lever 161i conditions either the pneumatic system 63 or the pneumatic system 6d for the operation of the corresponding picker stick. he thus conditioned picker stick is effective at a predetermined time in the cycle, determined by the cams 120 and 121 on the shaft 11, to discharge a shuttle from one of the shuttle boxes at the selected end of the loom.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1-3 and 6, the lluid systems 63 and 64 pneumatically control the operation of the picker sticks 25 and 26, and the selective conditioning and subsequent operation of the control valves 81 in these systems also is effected by pneumatic means. As a result, the number of moving parts is maintained at a minimum, and the possibility of re, such as might result from improperly insulated electrical components, etc., is substantially eliminated.

In other good arrangements, the picker sticks are operated by pneumatic systems having control valves which are selectively conditioned and actuated electrically. Thus, as best shown in FGURE 4, the cylinder 47 for the head end picker stick 25 is pneumatically connected to a conduit 2&0 leading to a source 2111 of air under pressure by a rst iiuid system 262, while the cylinder 57 for the drive end picker stick 26 is connected to the conduit 209 by a second uid system 253. Each of the fluid systems 2112 and 203 is provided with a manually operable shut-olf valve 205 adjacent the conduit 26d. The outlet of the valve 205 in each fluid system is connected through an air filter 206 and a pressure regulating valve 2117 to a storage tank 20S, the downstream side of which is connected through an air-line lubricator 259 to the inlet port 2111 of a solenoid-operated control valve 211. The control valve 211 in each system includes an outlet port 212 which is connected to the inlet port 6) of the corresponding iluid cylinder 47 or 57 and an exhaust port 213 which is open to the atmosphere. ln the unoperated positions of these valves, their inlet ports 215 are blocked and their outlet ports 212 are in open communication with the corresponding exhaust ports 213.

The control valve 211 in the uid system 262 is operated by a solenoid 215 to close its exhaust port and connect the corresponding inlet port 211) with the outlet port 212. Similarly, the valve 211 in the iluid system 203 is controlled by a solenoid 216 to close its exhaust port and connect the valve inlet port with the outlet port. As best shown in FIGURE 5, the solenoids 215 and 216 are supplied from a sutable source of electrical potential, such as a battery 221%. The positive terminal of this battery is electrically connected to a switch arm 221 which is movable between two contacts 222 and 223 under the control of the shift lever 16?. The contact 222 is connected to one side of the solenoid 215, the other side of which is affixed through series connected switches 225 and 226 and conductors 227 and 228 to the negative terminal of the battery 22e. The contact 223 is in electrically conductive relationship with one terminal of the solenoid 216, and the other terminal of this solenoid is secured through series connected switches 236 and 231 to a conductor 232 leading to negative battery through the conductor 228.

The switches 225, 226, 230 and 231 are respectively controlled by cams 235, 236, 2d@ and 241 which are rigidly ailixed to the constantly rotating shaft 11. This shaft has been shown schematically in FIGURE 5 by a dotted line. The switches advantageously are adjustably movable around the periphery of their corresponding cams, for purposes that will become more fully apparent hereafter. Each of the cams 235, 236, 24) and 241 includes a raised portion 242 which is adapted to engage a cam follower 243 controlling each switch. The cams are rotatable in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URE 5, and the cams 236 and 241 are angularly spaced in this direction from the cams 235 and 241), respectively, by approximately ninety degrees. At the start of each pick cycle, the raised portions 242 of the cams 235 and 240 are spaced from their followers to maintain the correspending switches 225 and 230 in an open position, while the raised portions of the cams 236 and 241 engage the followers of the switches 226 and 231 to close these latter switches.

The position of the shift lever 160, and hence that of the switch arm 221, is determined by the pattern chain 13 (FIGURE 1) and conditions either the solenoid 215 or the solenoid 216 for the operation of the corresponding control valve 211. Should the pattern called for by the chain 13 operate the shift lever 160 to move the switch arm 221 into engagement with the contact 222, for example, the positive terminal of the battery 220 is connected to one side of the solenoid 215. As the shaft 11 rotates, the raised portion 242 of the cam 235 engages the follower 243 of the switch 225 to close this switch and thereby connect the other side of the solenoid 215 to the negative terminal of the battery through the switches 225 and 226 and the conductors 227 and 228. The resulting energization of solenoid 215 connects the inlet port 21? (FIGURE 4) of the control valve 211 in the pneumatic system 262 to the outlet port 212 of this valve, thereby permitting the passage of air under pressure from the corresponding storage tank 263 to the cylinder 47 for the head end picker stick 25. This picker stick thereupon pivots in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE l, to discharge a shuttle from one of the head end shuttle boxes 14, 15 or 16 in a manner similar to that described heretofore. As the shaft 11 continues its rotation, the follower 243 on the switch 226 rides off the raised portion 242 of the cam 236 to thereby open this switch and break the circuit for the solenoid 215. The inlet port 2119 of the valve 211 in the system 292 thereupon closes, while the outlet port 212 of this valve is connected to the atmosphere through its exhaust port 213 to enable the spring 30 to return the picker stick 25 to its initial position.

ln cases in which the pattern chain 13 calls for the discharge of a shuttle from the drive end of the loom, the shift lever 161i moves the switch arm 221 into engagement with the contact 223, thus completing a circuit from the positive terminal of the battery 229 to one side of the solenoid 216. As the shaft 11 rotates, the raised portion 242 of the cam 24) engages the follower 243 for the switch 23) to close this switch and thereby connect the other side of the solenoid 216 to the negative terminal f battery 22@ through the switches 23h and 231 and the conductors 232 and 22S. The resulting energization of the solenoid 216 actuates the control valve 211 in the fluid system 293 to admit air under pressure into the cylinder 57 from the corresponding storage tank 268, thus operating the drive end picker stick 26 to discharge a shuttle from one of the shuttle boxes 17, 18 or 19. The arrangement is such that the particular position of the switch arm 221 conditions either the solenoid 215 or the solenoid 216 for the operation of the corresponding control valve 211. The point in the cycle at which this valve opens is determined by the angular position of the raised portion of the cam 235 or 240, while the angular position of the raised portion of the cam 236 or 241 determines the point at which the valve is returned to its closed position.

In each of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the timing of each pick is quickly and easily adjustable in accordance with thev particular weaving operation being'performed, and this adjustment is accomplished with equal facility whether the loom is operating or shut down. As an illustration, in the embodiment shown in FIG- URES 1-3 and 6, to delay the operation of the head end picker stick 25, the nuts 123 (FIGURE 6) are loosened, and the elongated rod 127 is raised to similarly raise the pilot valve 10S on the arms 125. The lowerrnost position of the follower 115 for this valve is thus elevated with the result that, as the cam 120 rotates, the leading edge of the raised portion 122 thereof strikes the follower 115 at a later point in the pick cycle to thereby delay the operation of valve 16S and hence the corresponding control valve 81 and the picker stick 25. The operation of the drive end picker stick 26 is delayed by similarly raising the pilot valve 110. Should it be desired to operate either picker stick at an earlier point in the cycle, the appropriate pilot valve 198 or 110 is lowered so that the corresponding follower rides onto the raised portion of its cam at an earlier time.

The particular point in the operation cycle at which picker sticks controlled by the arrangement shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5 are operated and/ or released is varied by adjusting the angular position of one or more of the switches 225, 226, 231i and 231 with respect to the corresponding cams 235, 236, 240 and 241, to thereby vary the points at which the solenoids 215 and 216 are energized and deenergized to open and close the control valves 212. rthese switches and their cams permit a wide Variation in the timing and duration of the operation of the valves 212 to adjust the pick cycle of the loom to substantially any weaving condition.

Although the lubricators 75 in FIGURE 2 and the lubricators 2tlg in FIGURE 4 may be inserted in the line on either side of their corresponding storage tanks, they advantageously are positioned upstream of the associated directional control valves and cylinders and thus serve to lubricate the cylinders as well as their control valves. In some embodiments, however, the various lubricators may be located at other points in the system or omitted entirely without departing from the purpose or scope of the invention.

Although the present invention has been shown and described as having particular utility in the operation of the picker sticks and 26 under the selective control of the pattern chain 13 in synchronization with the loom, it

and described, or portions thereof, it being recognized that various modications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. In a picking mechanism for a loom having a rotating shaft, in combination, picker means at each end of said loom, means including a pair of cylinders respectively associated with said picker means for operating the same, a source of air under pressure, a rst and a second pneumatic system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker means and to the cylinder for the other picker means, each of said systems including a compression chamber supplied with compressed air from said source and a valve interposed between said compression chamber Iand its corresponding cylinder and movable between a closed and an open position for controlling the dow of compressed air from said compression chamber to the corresponding cylinder, said valve connecting the corresponding cylinder to the atmosphere as said valve moves to said closed position and connecting said corresponding cylinder to the compression chamber therefor while preventing the connection of said cylinder to the atmosphere as said valve moves to said open position, means operable in synchronization with said loom for conditioning one or the other of said systems for the introduction of compressed air into the associated cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and means controlled by said shaft and in operable relationship `with the valve for each of said systems for moving the valve in the conditioned system from its said closed position to said open position to introduce compresed air from the compression chamber in said conditioned system into the connected cylinder, thereby operating the picker means associated therewith, and Afor thereafter returning the valve in said conditioned system to said closed position to exhaust the air in said connected cylinder.

2. In a picking mechanism for a loom having a constantly rotating shaft, in combination, picker means at each end of said loom, means including a pair of pneumatic cylinders respectively associated with said picker means for operating the same, a source of air under pressure, a first and a second pneumatic system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker means and to the cylinder for the other picker means, each of said systems including a compression chamber supplied with compressed air from said source and a valve means connected between said compression chamber and the corresponding cylinder and movable between a rst and a second position, said valve connecting the corresponding cylinder to the atmosphere as said valve moves to said first position and connecting said corresponding cylinder to the compression chamber therefor while preventing the connection of said cylinder to the atmosphere as said valve moves to said second position, said valve means and the corresponding cylinder preventing the iiow of compressed air `from said compression chamber to the atmosphere at all times during operation of said loom, means operated by said loom for conditioning one or the other of said systems `for the introduction of compressed air into the associated cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and timing means including a pluraiity of control cams carried by said constantly rotating shaft and in operable relationship with the valve for each of said systems for moving the valve in the conditioned system from its said lirst position to said second position to introduce compressed air from the compression chamber in said conditioned system into the connected cylinder, thereby operating the picker associated therewith, and for thereafter returning the valve means in said conditioned system to said iirst position to exhaust the air in said connected cylinder.

3. In a picking mechanism for a loom having po'wer means for controlling the :same including a constantly lll rotating shaft, in combination, picker means at each end of said loom, means including a pair of pneumatic cylinders respectively associated with said picker means for operating the same, a source of air under pressure, a first and a second piieun l=tic system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker means and to the cylinder for the other picker means, each of said systems including a compression chamber continuously supplied with compressed air from said source during the operation of the associated picker means and a valve interposed between said chamber and the corresponding cylinder and movable between a first and a second position, said valve connecting the corresponding cylinder to the atmosphere as said valve moves to said first position and connecting said corresponding cylinder to the compression chamber therefor while preventing the connection of said cylinder to the atmosphere as said valve moves to said second position, means operated by said loom during each pick cycle thereof for conditioning, in accorda ce with a predetermined pattern, one or the other of said systems to enable movement of the valve means in the conditioned system between said positions, and timing means including a control cam carried by said constantly rotating shaft and in operable relationship with each F'd valve for moving the valve in the conditioned systVA yfrom its said iirst position to said second position to introduce compressed air from the compression chamber thereadjaccnt into the associated cylinder, thereby operating its picker means, and for thereafter returning the valve in the conditioned system to said rst position to exhaust the air in said associated cylinder.

4. ln a picking mechanism for a loom including a rotating shaft, in combination, picker means at each end of said loom, means including a pair ot fluid cylinders and pistons therefor respectively associated with said picker means for operating the same, connecting means afllxed to each of said picker means, means for invintaining the connecting means for each said picker means in operable relationship with the associated piston and for moving said connecting means progressively toward said associated pi .on during the operation thereof, a Source of lluid under pressure, a first and a second uid system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker means and to the cylinder for the other picller means, each of said lluid systems including a compression chamber supplied with iluid from said source and valve means interposed between said chamber and the corresponding cylinder for normally preventing the low of uid therebetween, means operable in synchronization with said loom for conditioning one or the other of said systems for the introduction of fluid into the corresponding cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and timing means controlled oy said shaft and in operable relationship with the valve means in each of said huid systems for actuating the valve means in the conditioned system, to introduce lluid from the compression chamber therein into the corresponding cylinder and thereby operate its piston and the connected picker means.

5. ln a picking mechanism -for a loom including a constantly rotating shaft, in combination, picker means at each end of said loom, means including a pair of lluid cylinders and pistons therefor respectively associated with said picker means for operating the same, connecting means ailiiied to each of said picker means, means for maintaining the connecting means for each said picker means in operable relations lp with the associated piston and for moving said connecting means progressively toward said associ-ated piston during thc operation thereof, a source or `fluid under pressure, a lirst and a second iluid system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker means and to the cylinder for the other picker means, each of :said fluid systems including a compression chamber supplied with iluid from said source and valve means interposed between said chamber and the corresponding cylinder for normally preventing the flow of iluid therebetween, means operated by said loom for conditioning one or the other of said systems for the introduction of fluid into the corresponding cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattcr, said last-mentioned means including a pair of valves supplied witn lluid from said source for selectively conditio' "ng said systems in accordance with said pattern, and timing means controlled by said constantly rotating shaft `and in operable relationship with the valve means in each or said iluid systems for actuating the valve means in the conditioned system, to introduce lluid from the compression chamber therein into the corresponding cylinder and thereby operate its piston and the connected picker means.

6. ln a picking mechanism for a loom including a constantly rotating shaft, in combination, picker means at each end of said loom, means including a pair of fluid cylinders and pistons therefor respectively associated with said picker means for operating the same, connecting means afxed to each of said picker means, means for maintaining the connecting means for each said picker means in operable relationship with the associated piston and for moving said connecting means toward said associatcd piston during the operation thereof, a source of luid under Jressure, a first and a second uid system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picl'er means and to the cylinder for the other picker means, each of said fluid systems including a compression cliamber supplied with iluid from said source and valve means interposed between said chamber and the corresponding cylinder for normally preventing the ilow of iluid therebetween, means operated by said loom during each pick cycle thereof for conditioning one or the other of said systems for the introduction of fluid into the corresponding cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern, said last-mentioned means including a first pair of valves supplied with iluid from said source for sclectively conditioning said systems in accordance with said pattern, and timing means including a second pair of valves controlled by said constantly rotating shaft and in operable relationship with the respective valve means in said fluid systems for actuating the valve means in the conditioned system at a selected point in said pick cycle, to introduce iluid from the compression chamber therein into the corresponding cylinder and thereby operate its piston and the connected picker means.

7. ln a picking mechanism for a loom including a constantly rotating shaft and having a pattern chain for controlling the picking sequence, in combination, picker means at each end of said loom, means including a pair of lluid cylinders and pistons therefor respectively associated with said picker means for operating the same, connecting means atxed to each of said picker means, means for maintaining the connecting means for each said picker means in operable relationship with the associated piston and for moving said connecting means toward said associated piston during the operation thereof, a source of fluid under pressure, a first and a second lluid system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker means and to the cylinder for the other picker means, each of said fluid systems including a compression chamber supplied with fluid from said source and valve means interposed between said chamber and the corresponding cylinder for normally preventing the llow of fluid therebetween, said valve means and the corresponding cylinder preventing the flow of fluid from said compression chamber to the atmosphere at all times during operation of said loom, electrical circuit means operated by said loom for conditioning one or the other of said systems for the introduction of fluid into the coi'- responding cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern determined by said pattern chain, and timing means controlled by said constantly rotating shaft and including a pair of solenoids in operable relationship wit.

13 the respective valve means in said fluid systems for actuating the valve means in the conditioned system, to introduce fluid from the compression chamber therein into the corresponding cylinder and thereby operate its piston and the connected picker means.

8. A picking mechanism of the character set forth in claim 7, in which said circuit means includes a twoposition switch, the position of said switch being determined by the pattern chain of said loom, for selectively conditioning said solenoids for the actuation of said valve means in accordance with said predetermined pattern.

9. In a picking mechanism for a loom having a constantly rotating shaft, in combination, picker means at each end of said loom, means for operating said picker means including a pair of pneumatic cylinders and pistons therefor respectively associated with said picker means, each of said pistons being connected to the corresponding picker means and movable relative thereto, a source of air under pressure, a rst and a second pneumatic system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker means and to the cylinder for the other picker means, each of said systems including a co1npression chamber supplied with compressed air from said source and a control valve connected between said compression chamber and the corresponding cylinder and movable between a first and a second position for controlling the flow of compressed air from said compression chamber to the corresponding cylinder, each said control valve preventing the flow of compressed air to the corresponding cylinder and connecting the corresponding cylinder to the atmosphere as said valve moves to said rst position connecting said corresponding cylinder to the compression chamber therefor while preventing the connection of said cylinder to the atmosphere as said valve moves to said second position, means operated by said loom for selectively conditioning each of said systems for the introduction of compressed air into the associated cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and timing means including a plurality of control cams carried by said constantly rotating shaft and in operable relationship with the control valve for each of said systems for moving the valve in the conditioned system from its said rst to said second position, to introduce compressed air from the associated compression chamber into the corresponding cylinder and thereby operate its piston and the connected picker means, said connected picker means moving toward the associated piston during the operation thereof, and for thereafter returning the valve in the conditioned system to its said first position, to exhaust the air in said corresponding cylinder.

l0. In a picking mechanism for a loom having a constantly rotating shaft, in combination, picker means including a pair of picker sticks at respective ends of said loom, each of said picker sticks being pivotally movable between an unoperated and an operated position, spring means biasing each said picker stick toward its unoperated position, means for operating said picker sticks including a pair of fluid cylinders and pistons therefor respectively connected to said picker sticks, a source of duid under pressure, a rst and a second fluid system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker sticks and to the cylinder for the other picker stick, each of said fluid systems including a compression chamber continuously supplied with fluid from said source during the operation of the associated picker stick, a control valve normally preventing the flow of fluid from said chamber to the corresponding cylinder and means for lubricating said valve and corresponding cylinder, said control valve and the corresponding cylinder preventing the llow of fluid from said compression chamber to the atmosphere at all times during operation of said loom, means operated by said loom for selectively conditioning each of said systems for the introduction of fluid into the associated cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and timing means including a plurality of cams carried by said constantly rotating shaft and in operable relationship with the control valve for each of said fluid systems for actuating the valve in the conditioned system, to introduce fluid from the associated compression chamber into the corresponding cylinder and thereby actuate its piston to move the connected picker stick from said unoperated position to said operated position against the tension iu said spring means.

ll. In a picking mechanism for a loom including a constantly rotating shaft, in combination, picker means including a pair of picker sticks at respective ends of said loom, each of said picker sticks being pivotally movable etween an unoperated and an operated position, spring means biasing each said picker stick toward its unoperated position, means for moving said picker sticks between said positions including a pair of lluid cylinders and pistons therefor respectively connected to said picker sticks, a source of fluid under pressure, a first and a second fluid system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker sticks and to the cylinder for the other picker stick, each of said fluid systems including a compression chamber continuously supplied with liuid from said source during the operation of the associated picker stick, a control valve normally preventing the ow of uid from said chamber to the corresponding cylinder and means for lubricating said valve and corresponding cylinder, said control valve and the corresponding cylinder preventing the ow of fluid from said compression charnber to the atmosphere at all times during operation of said loom, means operated by said loom and including a pair of valve supplied with fluid from said source for selectively conditioning each of said systems for the introduction of fluid into the associated cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and timing means including a plurality of cams carried by said constantly rotating shaft and in operable relationship with the control valve for each of said fluid systems for actuating the control valve in the conditioned system, to introduce fluid from the associated compression chamber into the corresponding cylinder and thereby actuate its piston to move the connected picker stick from said unoperated position to said operated position against the tension in said spring means.

l2. ln a picking mechanism for a loom including a constantly rotating shaft, in combination, picker means including a pair of picker sticks at respective ends of said loom, each of said picker sticks being pivotally movable between an unoperated and an operated position, spring means biasing each said picker stick toward its unoperated position, means for moving said picker sticks between said positions including a pair of lluid cylinders and pistons therefor respectively connected to said picker sticks, a source of fluid under pressure, a first and a second fluid system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker sticks and to the cylinder for the other picker stick, each of said fluid systems including a compression chamber continuously supplied with fluid from said source during the operation of the associated picker stick, a control valve normally preventing the flow of uid from said chamber to the corresponding cylinder and means for lubricating said valve and corresponding cylinder, said control valve and the corresponding cylinder preventing the flow of iiuid from said compression chamber to the atmosphere at all times during operation of said loom, means operated by said loom during each pick cycle thereof and including a first pair of valves supplied with Huid from said source for selectively conditioning each of said systems for the introduction of fluid into the associated cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and timing means including a plus rality of cams carried by said constantly rotating shaft andA a second pair of valves controlled by said cams and respectively connected to said first valve pair, said timing means being in operable relationship with the control valve for each of said fluid systems for actuating the control valve in the conditioned system, to introduce liuid l5 from the associated compression chamber into the corresponding cyiinder and thereby actuate its piston to move the connected picker stick from said unopcrated position to said operated position against the tension in said spring means.

13. In a picking mechanism for a loom having a constantly rotating shaft and including a pattern chain for controlling the picking sequence, in combination, picker means including a pair of picker sticks at respective ends of said loom, each of said picker sticks being pivotally movable between an unoperated and an operated position, spring means biasing each said picker stick toward its unoperated position, `means for operating said picker sticks including a pair of fluid cylinders and pistons therefor respectively connected to said picker sticks, a source of iiuid under pressure, a first and a second fluid system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker sticks and to the cylinder for the other picker stick, each of said fluid systems including a compression chamber continuously supplied with fluid from said source during the operation of the associated picker stick, a control valve normally preventing the ilow of fluid from said chamber to the corresponding cyiinder and means for lubricating said valve and corresponding cylinder, said control valve and the corresponding cylinder preventing the dow of fluid from said compression chan-- bcr to the atmosphere at all times during operation of said loom, circuit means operated by said loom for selectively conditioning each of said systems for the introduction of iiuid into the associated cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern determined by said pattern chain, and timing means includin" a plurality of cams carried by said constantly rotating shaft and a pair of solenoids connected in said circuit means and in respective operable relationship with the control valves for each of said fluid systems for actuating the valve in the conditioned system, to introduce fluid from the associated compression chamber into the corresponding cylinder and thereby actuate its piston to move the connected picker stick from said unoperated position to said operated position against the tension in said spring means.

14. ln a picking mechanism for a loom having power means for .controlling the same including a constantly rotating shaft, said loom being provided with a pattern chain for controlling the picking sequence, in combination, picker means including a pair of picker sticks at respective ends of said loom, each of said picker sticks being pivotally movable between an unoperated and an operated position, spring means biasing each said picker stick toward its unoperated position, means for moving said picker sticks between said positions including a pair of fluid cylinders and pistons therefor respectively connected to said picker sticks, and operating means separate from said power means for controlling the movement of said pistons, said operating means comprising a source of iluid under pressure, a first and a second uid system respectively connecting said -source to the cylinder for one of said picker sticks and to the cylinder for the other picker stick, each of said fluid systems including a compression chamber continuously supplied with lluid from said source during the movement of the associated picker stick toward its operated position, a control valve normally preventing the iiow of Huid from said chamber to the corresponding cylinder and means for lubricating said valve and corresponding cylinder, said control valve and the corresponding cylinder preventing the flow of fluid from said compression chamber to the atmosphere at all times during operation of said loom, means oper-ated by said loom during each pick cycle thereof for selecvtively conditioning each of said systems for the introduction of fluid' into the associated cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern determined by said pattern chain and timing means in operable relationship with the control valve for each of said fluid systems and responsive to said constantly rotating shaft during each i6 said pick cycle for actuating the valve in the conditioned system, to introduce lluid from the associated compression chamber into the corresponding cylinder and thereby actuate its piston to move the connected picker stick from said unoperated position to said operated position against the tension in said spring means.

l5. In a pneumatic picking mechanism for a loom having an oscillating lay and power means for controlling the same including a constantly rotating shaft, in combination, picker means including a pair of picker sticks at respective ends of said loom, each of said picker sticks bcing pivotally movable between an unoperated and an operated position, spring means biasing each said picker stick toward its unoperated position, means for moving said picker sticks between said positions including a pair of pneumatic cylinders .and pistons therefor respectively connected to said picker sticks, and operating means scparate from the power means for oscillating said lay for controlling the movement of said pistons, said operating means comprising a source of air under pressure, a first and a second pneumatic system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker sticks and to the cylinder for the other picker Stick, each of said systems including a compression chamber supplied with air Ifrom said source, a control valve normally preventing the flow of air from said chamber to the corresponding cylinder and means for lubricating said valve and corresponding cylinder, said control valve and the corresponding cylinder preventing the ow of fluid from said compression chamber to the atmosphere at all times during operation of said loom, means operated by said loom during each pick cycle thereof for selectively conditioning each of said pneumatic systems for the introduction of air into the associated cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern and timing means including a plurality of cams carried by said constantly rotating shaft and in operable relationship with the control valve for each of said pneumatic systems for actuating the valve in the conditioned system, to introduce air from the associated compression chamber into the corresponding cylinder and thereby actuate its piston to move the connected picker stick from said unoperated position to said operated position against the tension in said spring means.

16. In a pneumatic picking mechanism for a loom having an oscillating lay and power means for controlling the same including a constantly rotating shaft, in combination, picker means including a pair of aluminum picker sticks at respective ends of said loom, each of said picker sticks being pivotally movable between an unoperated and an operated position, spring means biasing each said picker stick toward its unoperated position, means for moving said picker sticks between said positions including a pair of pneumatic cylinders and pistons therefor respectively operatively associated with said picker sticks and including connecting means alixed to each of said picker sticks intermediate the ends thereof, means for maintaining the connecting means for each Said picker stick in operable relationship with the associated piston and for moving said .connecting means toward said associated piston during the operation th reof, and operating means separate from the power means for said oscillating lay for controlling the movement of said pistons, said operating means comprising a source of air under pressure, a rst and a second pneumatic system respectively connecting said source to the cylinder for one of said picker sticks and to the cylinder for the other picker stick, each of said systems including a compression chamber continuously supplied with air from said source during the operation of said picker sticks, a control valve normally preventing the flow of air from said chamber to the corresponding cylinder and means for lubricating said valve and corresponding cylinder, means operated by said loom during each pick cycle thereof for selectively conditioning each of said pneumatic systems for the introduction of air into the associated cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern and timing means including a plurality of cams carried by said constantly rotating shaft and in operable relationship with the control valve ttor each of said pneumatic systems for actuating the valve, in the conditioned system, to introduce air from the associated compression chamber into the corresponding cylinder and thereby actuate its piston to move the connected picker stick from said unoperatedl position to said operated position against the tension in said spring means.

17. A pneumatic picking mechanism of the character set forth in claim 16, in which said operating means includes means adjustable during the operation of said loom for varying the timing and duration of the actuation of the control valve in the conditioned system by said timing means.

18. in a picking mechanism for a loom, in combination, a picker stick at at least one end of said loom, means including a iluid cylinder and piston there-for operatively associated with said picker stick, a source of fluid under pressure, a compression chamber supplied with fluid from said source, a control valve connected between said compression chamber and said tcyiinder and movable between an inoperative and an operative position, said control valve preventing the iiow of uid to said cylinder and connecting the same to the atmosphere as said valve moves to said inoperative position and connecting said cylinder to said compression chamber as said valve moves to said operative position, said control valve and said cylinder preventing the iiow of uid from said compression chamber to the atmosphere at all times during operation of said loom, means operated by said loom for selectively conditioning said control valve for the introduction of fiuid into said cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and means for moving the conditioned valve from its said inoperative to said operative position, to introduce fluid from said compression chamber into said cylinder and thereby operate said picker stick, and for thereafter returning said valve to said inoperative position, to exhaust the iluid in said cylinder.

19. In a picking mechanism for a loom, in combination, a picker stick at at least one end of said loom, means including a fluid cylinder and piston therefor operatively associated with said picker stick, a source oi' fluid under pressure, a compression chamber continuously supplied with fluid from said source durin-g the operation of said picker stick, a control valve connected between said compression chamber and said cylinder and movable Ibetween an inoperative and an operative position, said control valve preventing the lflow of iiuid to said cylinder and connecting .the same to the atmosphere as said valve moves to said inoperative position and -connecting said cylinder to said compression chamber as said valve moves to said operative position, said control valve and said cylinder preventing the flow of iiuid `from said compression chamber to the atmosphere at all times during operation of said loom, means operated by said loom for selectively conditioning said control valve `for the introduction of iiuid into said cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and means for moving the conditioned valve from its said inoperative to said operative position, to introduce i'luid from said compression chamber into said cylinder and thereby operate said picker stick, and for thereafter returning said valve to said inoperative position, to exhaust the liu-id in said cylinder.

2G. In a picking mechanism for a loom, in combination, a picker stick at at least one end of said loom, means including a fluid cylinder and piston therefor operatively associated with said picker stick, connecting means afiixed to said picker stick intermediate its ends, means for maintaining said connecting means in operable relationship With said piston and for moving said connecting means progressively toward said piston during the operation thereof, a source of fluid under pressure, a compression chamber connected to said source, means including a control valve connected between said compression chamber and said cylinder and movable between an inoperative and an operative position, said control valve when in said inoperative-position preventing the flow of uid to said cylinder and connecting the same to the atmosphere and when in said operative position connecting said .cylinder to said compression chamber, said control valve and said cylinder preventing the now of uid from said compression chamber to the atmosphere at all times during operation of said loom, means operated by said -loom ior selectively conditioning said control valve for the introduction of fluid into said cylinder in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and means `for moving the conditioned valve from its said inoperative to said operative position, to introduce fluid from said Icompression chamber into said cylinder and thereby operate said picker stick, and for thereafter returning said valve to said inoperative position, to exhaust the uid in said cylinder, said compression chamber being `continuously supplied with iuid from said source `during the operation of said picker stick.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A PICKING MECHANISM FOR A LOOM HAVING A ROTATING SHAFT, IN COMBINATION, PICKER MEANS AT EACH END OF SAID LOOM, MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF CYLINDERS RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID PICKER MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SAME, A SOURCE OF AIR UNDER PRESSURE, A FIRST AND A SECOND PNEUMATIC SYSTEM RESPECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID SOURCE TO THE CYLINDER FOR ONE OF SAID PICKER MEANS AND TO THE CYLINDER FOR THE OTHER PICKER MEANS, EACH OF SAID SYSTEMS INCLUDING A COMPRESSION CHAMBER SUPPLIED WITH COMPRESSED AIR FROM SAID SOURCE AND A VALVE INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID COMPRESSION CHAMBER AND ITS CORRESPONDING CYLINDER AND MOVABLE BETWEEN A CLOSED AND AN OPEN POSITION FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF COMPRESSED AIR FROM SAID COMPRESSION CHAMBER TO THE CORRESPONDING CYLINDER, SAID VALVE CONNECTING THE CORRESPONDING CYLINDER TO THE ATMOSPHERE AS SAID VALVE MOVES TO SAID CLOSED POSITION AND CONNECTING SAID CORRESPONDING CYLINDER TO THE COMPRESSION CHAMBER THEREFOR WHILE PREVENTING THE CONNECTION OF SAID CYLINDER TO THE ATMOSPHERE AS SAID VALVE MOVES TO SAID OPEN POSITION, MEANS OPERABLE IN SYNCHRONIZATION WITH SAID LOOM FOR CONDITIONING ONE OR THE OTHER OF SAID SYSTEMS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPRESSED AIR INTO THE ASSOCIATED CYLINDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PREDETERMINED PAT- 